Hawkes Bay-based designer Kirsha Whitcher from fashion label Salasai will be re-locating to Perth, Australia as of December 1st 2011. Her decision to re-locate the Salasai base comes at a time where the label has evolved and grown into its own, particularly with its re-branding as a unisex line from its Summer 2010 ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’ collection.
Re-locating her family to Perth will no doubt be a major task, but one that Whitcher is looking forward to. “We have seen our label grow in leaps and bounds and the move signifies the next chapter for Salasai, particularly our growth within the Australian market. Our sales and press interest has grown and it will be a chance for me to connect with our buyers and media there on a personal level, providing the perfect base for me to still be able to work closely with our growing New Zealand and Asian markets.” Whitcher will also be joined by her long time pattern-cutter and design assistant, Harriet Will, an integral part of the Salasai fold.
After a successful New Zealand Fashion Week presentation in September which saw a variety of strong media coverage from The New Zealand Herald, Russh Magazine (AUS), UK Grazia and Paper Mag (US), Whitcher is already working on Salasai Spring 2012/2013, building on her strong relationships with her key buyers, media and major sponsors.
“The brand continues to thrive due to efforts of my Auckland based PR team at Showroom 22 with Murray Bevan and Anna-Lise Sharma, my sales rep Kelly Watson, my stylist Dan Ahwa, as well as the incomparable efforts of our creative sponsors Stephen Marr Salon and MAC Cosmetics, all integral team members who have been synonymous with the development and support of Salasai since its inception in 2007. Salasai is first and foremost a New Zealand label, and is something that I am proud to maintain moving forward.”
